Richards promises better days for renters as
he is sworn is as Queens borough president
BY MARK HALLUM
Having been officially
sworn in on Dec. 2, new Queens
Borough President Donovan
Richards got to enjoy some
pomp and circumstance with
an inauguration ceremony on
Sunday, Dec. 6, outside Queens
Borough Hall.
State Attorney General
Letitia James did the honors
this time as Richards, the first
Black man ever elected to the
office, said that more affordable
housing would be created
in Queens and under more acceptable
standards of affordability
and greater diversity on
community boards.
But Richards, a former
southeast Queens councilman,
said he would not have been
there if it was not for those who
had gone before him, namely
the late Claire Schulman who
gave him guidance and the late
Helen Marshall, who was the
first African-American elected
to the office, which is in its
122nd year of existence.
“Kids in my neighborhood,
often grow up thinking that
they can’t make it, and can’t do
great things,” Richards said.
“Being able to see someone like
Helen Marshall in this seat
means something and meant
something to a young person of
color like me. It’s why I’m standing
here today and I will never
ever forget your legacy.”
According to Richards,
Superstorm Sandy offered a
unique opportunity to redevelop
Queens with more housing
and infrastructure to give New
Yorkers in the “World’s Borough”
better lives following the
disaster. Now, a financial crisis
spawned of COVID-19 presents
another opportunity to make
improvements, Richards said,
starting with tenant legal services
and ensuring the developers
build for an area median income
reflective people already
in the community.
“After Superstorm Sandy, I
saw communities decimated.
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But we overcame we rebuilt infrastructure,
stronger, we built
new affordable and sustainable
housing. We’re going to continue
that work,” Richards said. “I
know so many people are struggling
to pay their rent or find an
affordable place to live. There’s
been incredible growth in our
borough. But as we watch the
skyline transform and grow in
front of our eyes each and every
day, there are too many people
who feel as if they’re being left
behind. We’re gonna build affordable
housing in Queens.
We’re gonna identify sites and
ensure unit requirements are
part of these projects, in the
proper area median income in
the borough president’s office.”
In the Nov. 3 general election,
Richards beat Queens County
Republican Party Chair Joann
Ariola. Now, a special election
will be held for his former
council seat on Feb. 23.
Members of the Queens
County Democratic Party attended
the chilly, socially
distanced outdoor ceremony,
including party Chairman
Congressman Gregory Meeks,
Queens District Attorney (and
former borough president)
Melinda Katz, as well as Congresswoman
Carolyn Maloney
and others in city and state
government.
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer
also made an appearance at
the event, telling the audience
he hopes that in the coming
years a Democratic majority on
Capitol Hill will see his rise to
majority leader.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards is sworn in by state
Attorney General Letitia James at Queens Borough Hall on Dec. 6.
Photo by Mark Hallum
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